The Emperor soon annulled the marriage, using the Imperial Astronomical Bureau’s calculation that the couple’s horoscopes were incompatible. Everyone was shocked; just a while ago, rumors of their engagement had been circulating, and now, the wedding was off. The seasoned observers didn’t believe the official reason and speculated about the truth behind closed doors.
When the news reached the Mu family, Old Master Mu was deeply disappointed. Although he had expected this, he had held onto a sliver of hope. If young Master Xu had indeed married his eldest daughter, and his second daughter could wed the Crown Prince, the Mu family would have been invincible. Alas, his eldest daughter ultimately lacked such fortune.
With the engagement canceled, Mu Fei eagerly spread the news. Even Wu Caiwei, who had been confined to her room, heard about it, not through direct inquiry but from the incessant discussions within the courtyard.
Wu Caiwei was surprised by how easily the engagement was called off, realizing the Xu family's significant standing in the Emperor’s heart, or more accurately, the Empress’s irreplaceable position.
However, this also disrupted Wu Caiwei’s plans. She didn’t want Xu Minghui to harm anyone else, and her only recourse was to tie them together. While the situation seemed irreversible, she was still willing to try.
Meanwhile, Madam Mu, upon receiving a letter from her maternal family, fell into deep thought. Her mother had asked her to help her grandson, her nephew, find a suitable marriage. But given her family’s circumstances, what respectable family would willingly marry their daughter to him? Although her family had some renown in town due to her influence, they were insignificant in the capital. In the eyes of many, they were simply country bumpkins.
Previously, she would have outright refused, but now the situation was different. Wasn't the eldest daughter still in the household? What kind of good match could someone of her reputation secure? Perhaps, with her relationship with the master, she could persuade him to marry her off.
Although the eldest daughter was not favored in the household and Madam Mu found her displeasing, she was, after all, the legitimate eldest daughter. Her dowry would not be insignificant. For the sake of the dowry, marrying her would not be a loss. Besides, she was just a woman; if she behaved well, she could be kept as a decoration. If Madam Mu grew tired of her, she could be dealt with discreetly.
The more she thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. She planned to seize an opportunity when the master was in a good mood to bring it up. Wu Caiwei was unaware that someone had already set their sights on her. If she had known, she would have ensured that person didn't have an easy time. Of course, she wouldn't marry into that family and be subjected to their will.
Initially, Mu Fei was quite pleased when the engagement was broken off. But soon, she noticed a shift in the Crown Prince’s attitude towards her. Previously, any letter she sent would prompt him to visit and discuss matters, but recently, neither her letters nor her gifts received any response. To her, this was a bad omen.
Her suspicions proved true. As soon as the Crown Prince heard that the gifts were from her, he ordered them thrown away. It was her fault for giving him such a terrible idea. While the Empress seemed outwardly unchanged, he understood that her recent concern for him carried a new layer of scrutiny. Furthermore, the Empress had been frequently summoning various princes, making him wonder about her intentions.
He was the Crown Prince; could she be plotting to implicate him? Although he believed the Empress to be intelligent and unlikely to do something so foolish, there was always a possibility.
The Crown Prince had long forgotten that Mu Fei’s suggestion had been one he had agreed to. He instinctively blamed her for everything, believing she had ruined him, and harbored deep resentment towards her. Naturally, he wouldn't even look at anything she sent.
Although the Crown Prince was unwilling to apologize to the Empress, he understood that his birth mother was merely a palace maid with an insignificant county magistrate for a father, possessing no power or influence. His only reliance was the Empress. After some thought, he suppressed his indignation and hurried to appease her.
The more he acted this way, the more heartbroken and disappointed the Empress became. His birth mother had died shortly after his birth. By all rights, he shouldn't have been made Crown Prince given his lineage. However, the Empress couldn’t bear to see a mother and son separated. Moreover, with his birth mother still alive, there was the risk of him being influenced by others. To prevent any unforeseen circumstances, she decided that adopting him was the best course of action. With his mother deceased and his maternal family being minor officials of no consequence, unable to provide any substantial help or malicious intent, he would have to rely on himself and the Xu family as he grew up.
In his childhood, his eyes were solely focused on her. But as he grew older and was established as Crown Prince, his gaze gradually changed. His interactions with her became more about testing her. For years, the Empress endured. It was only recently that she realized she had lived her life without children and deserved to live comfortably. Since her days were no longer pleasant, she needed to seek change.
A mother knows her son best. For years, the Empress had truly treated him as her own son. She understood the deep meaning behind his every action. Although he masked his feelings well, she could still sense his hatred and resentment. For a single action of hers, he had completely forgotten over a decade of nurturing. It seemed some people were inherently ungrateful.
She felt she should have a good talk with the Emperor. While the final choice of successor was not yet determined, she could start the process. At the very least, his key supporters needed to be removed.
To the Crown Prince's surprise, the Emperor inexplicably began to dislike him, constantly making things difficult for him. At every court session, he would scold him in front of all the civil and military officials. Even the officials he had promoted suffered, some exiled, others demoted. Suddenly, a pall of fear hung over the court, and everyone wished to distance themselves from him.
He couldn't understand what had offended his father. If anyone had offended him, it would be the Empress, but the Empress held no significant sway with the Emperor. Otherwise, besides the first day of the new year, the Emperor never visited the Phoenix Palace. The Xu family also received no special treatment from the Emperor. On the contrary, the Second Prince, whose birth mother was the Imperial Noble Consort and whose maternal family controlled military power, was a strong contender for the throne.
He had only benefited from the title of the legitimate son. For years, he had been cautious and diligent, achieving his current position. He heard that his father's health was failing, and as long as he remained calm and made no mistakes, he would smoothly ascend the throne. Unexpectedly, at this crucial juncture, he had incurred his father's displeasure, and the worst part was that he had no idea where he had gone wrong.
The signals from the front court naturally reached the inner court. The Second and Third Princes saw an opportunity and became incredibly active, quickly garnering support from ministers. Even Old Master Mu hesitated. Previously, he had been wholeheartedly in favor of his daughter marrying into the Crown Prince’s household, but now, it was uncertain who would ultimately prevail.
Any deep affection Mu Fei claimed to have for the Crown Prince was false. What she desired was the day she would become empress. It was no wonder that not only her father but even she regretted becoming so entangled with the Crown Prince.